Intro to Gi System and Accessory Structures

A client is scheduled for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). During the client teaching, what will the nurse discuss?

"Do you experience any claustrophobia?"

An enzyme that begins the digestion of starches is

ptyalin.

A client reports having red stools lately. What will the nurse ask during assessment questioning?

"Have you been eating beets?"

A client presents at the ambulatory clinic reporting recurrent sharp stomach pain that is relieved by eating. The nurse suspects that the client may have an ulcer. How should the nurse explain the formation and role of acid in the stomach to the client?

"Hydrochloric acid is secreted by glands in the stomach in response to the actual or anticipated presence of food."

A female client has presented to the emergency department with right upper quadrant pain; the health care provider has ordered abdominal ultrasound to rule out cholecystitis. The client expresses concern to the nurse about the safety of this diagnostic procedure. How should the nurse best respond?

"Abdominal ultrasound poses no known safety risks of any kind."

A home care nurse is caring for a client with reports of epigastric discomfort who is scheduled for a barium swallow. Which statement by the client indicates an understanding of the test?

"I'll avoid eating or drinking anything 6 to 8 hours before the test."

A client asks the nurse why the physician ordered the blood test carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). The nurse answers:

"It indicates if a cancer is present."

A client has been brought to the emergency department with abdominal pain and is subsequently diagnosed with appendicitis. The client is scheduled for an appendectomy but questions the nurse about how a person's health is affected by the absence of the appendix. How should the nurse best respond?

"Your appendix doesn't play a major role in health, so you won't notice any difference after your recovery from surgery."

It is suspected that a client might have a problem in the duodenum and the client is scheduled to have GI studies done in the morning. In client education, the nurse describes the procedure and includes basic information about anatomy and the function of the organs involved. The client asks how long the duodenum is. What is the nurse's best response?

10 in

In client education with a client who has a lower GI study scheduled, the nurse describes the organs involved and their characteristics. Approximately how long are the jejunum and the ileum if their lengths are combined?

23 feet

What is the approximate length of the large intestine?

4-5 feet

When bowel sounds are heard about every 15 seconds, the nurse would record that the bowel sounds are

normal

The nurse is caring for a client recovering from a colonoscopy. Which assessment finding will the nurse expect in the client after the procedure?

Abdominal cramps

Which of the following is the primary function of the small intestine?

Absorption

A nurse is caring for a client with recurrent hematemesis who is scheduled for upper gastrointestinal fibroscopy. How should the nurse in the radiology department prepare this client?

Apply local anesthetic to the back of the client's throat.

A nurse is promoting increased protein intake to enhance a client's wound healing. What is the enzyme that will initiate the digestion of the protein that the client consumes?

pepsin

A client with diabetes begins to have digestive problems and is told by the physician that they are a complication of the diabetes. Which of the following explanations from the nurse is most accurate?

The pancreas secretes digestive enzymes.

A client reports a history of bleeding hemorrhoids to the nurse. Which observation supports the client's statement?

Blood streaks on stool

The nurse is assisting the health care provider with a colonoscopy for a client with rectal bleeding. The health care provider requests the nurse to administer glucagon during the procedure. Why is the nurse administering this medication during the procedure?

To relax colonic musculature and reduce spasm.

A client comes into the emergency department with reports of abdominal pain. What should the nurse ask first?

Characteristics and duration of pain

A nurse is caring for an 83-year-old client who is being assessed for recurrent and intractable nausea. What age-related change to the GI system may be a contributor to the client's health issues?

Stomach emptying takes place more slowly.

A nurse is performing an abdominal assessment of an older adult client. When collecting and analyzing data, the nurse should be cognizant of what age-related change in gastrointestinal structure and function?

Decreased mucus secretion

A patient with cystic fibrosis takes pancreatic enzyme replacements on a regular basis. The patient's intake of trypsin facilitates what aspect of GI function?

Digestion of proteins

An adult client is scheduled for an upper GI series that will use a barium swallow. What teaching should the nurse include when the client has completed the test?

Fluids must be increased to facilitate the evacuation of the stool.

A nurse is assessing the abdomen of a client just admitted to the unit with suspected GI disease. Inspection reveals several diverse lesions on the client's abdomen. How should the nurse best interpret this assessment finding?

GI diseases often produce skin changes.

A nurse has auscultated a client's abdomen and noted one or two bowel sounds in a 2-minute period of time. How should the nurse document the client's bowel sounds?

Hypoactive

A client who has been experiencing changes in his bowel function is scheduled for a barium enema. What instruction should the nurse provide for postprocedure recovery?

Increase fluid intake to evacuate the barium.

The nurse is caring for a client who has a diagnosis of AIDS. Inspection of the client's mouth reveals the new presence of white lesions on the client's oral mucosa. What is the nurse's most appropriate response?

Inform the primary provider of this finding.

A client is scheduled for an upper gastrointestinal barium study. Which teaching will the nurse provide for the client to prepare for this diagnostic test?

Ingest nothing by mouth after midnight.

The nurse is preparing to perform a client's abdominal assessment. What examination sequence should the nurse follow?

Inspection, auscultation, percussion, and palpation

The nurse is caring for a client scheduled for a colonoscopy. The nurse should assist the client into what position during this diagnostic test?

Lying on the left side with legs drawn toward the chest

A nurse is caring for clients in a stroke rehabilitation facility. Damage to what area of the brain will most affect a client's ability to swallow?

Medulla oblongata

The nurse is assisting the health care provider with a gastric acid stimulation test for a client. What medication should the nurse prepare to administer subcutaneously to stimulate gastric secretions?

Pentagstrin

A client is being assessed for a suspected deficit in intrinsic factor synthesis. What diagnostic or assessment finding is the most likely rationale for this examination of intrinsic factor production?

Persistently low hemoglobin and hematocrit

The nurse is providing health education to a client with a gastrointestinal disorder. What should the nurse describe as a major function of the GI tract?

The absorption into the bloodstream of nutrient molecules produced by digestion

The nurse is providing instructions to a client scheduled for a gastroscopy. What should the nurse be sure to include in the instructions? Select all that apply.

The client must fast for 8 hours before the examination. The throat will be sprayed with a local anesthetic. After gastroscopy, the client cannot eat or drink until the gag reflex returns (1 to 2 hours).

A nurse is caring for a newly admitted client with a suspected GI bleed. The nurse assesses the client's stool after a bowel movement and notes it to be a tarry-black color. This finding is suggestive of bleeding from what location?

Upper GI tract

A client was diagnosed with pernicious anemia. Which vitamin cannot be absorbed without an intrinsic factor?

Vitamin b12

For a patient with a disorder of the gastrointestinal (GI) system, which of the following histories would the nurse assess?

Work history for exposure to environmental toxic wastes or radioactive materials

A nurse is providing preprocedure education for a client who will undergo a lower GI tract study the following week. What should the nurse teach the client about bowel preparation?

You'll need to have enemas the day before the test."

What part of the GI tract begins the digestion of food?

mouth

Which of the following digestive enzymes aids in the digesting of starch?

amylase

A patient is scheduled for a fiberoptic colonoscopy. What does the nurse know that fiberoptic colonoscopy is most frequently used to diagnose?

cancer

A client is scheduled to have an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Which structures are visualized during this procedure?

common bile duct, pancreatic duct, and biliary tree

Cystic fibrosis, a genetic disorder characterized by pulmonary and pancreatic dysfunction, usually appears in young children but can also affect adults. If the pancreas was functioning correctly, where would the bile and pancreatic enzymes enter the GI system?

duodenum

The nurse is performing an assessment of a patient. During the assessment the patient informs the nurse of some recent "stomach trouble." What does the nurse know is the most common symptom of patients with GI dysfunction?

dyspepsia

Which response is a parasympathetic response in the GI tract?

increased peristalsis

Which procedure is performed to examine and visualize the lumen of the small bowel?

small bowel enteroscopy

A nurse is teaching a client with malabsorption syndrome about the disorder and its treatment. The client asks which part of the GI tract absorbs food. What is the nurse's best response?

small intestine

A client with a recent history of intermittent bleeding is undergoing capsule endoscopy to determine the source of the bleeding. When explaining this diagnostic test to the client, what advantage should the nurse describe?

the test is noninvasive

Which enzyme aids in the digestion of protein?

trypsin

The client describes a test previously completed to detect a small bowel obstruction prior to admission to the hospital. The client states that the test involved insertion of a tube through the nose and lasted over 6 hours. The nurse determines which test name should be documented?

upper GI enteroclysis

The nurse recognizes which change of the GI system is an age-related change?

weakened gag reflex

A client with a gastrointestinal condition asks why the mouth needs to be examined. Which response will the nurse make?

"Changes in the mouth can help explain why your condition is occurring."

A client has sought care because of recent dark-colored stools. As a result, a fecal occult blood test has been ordered. The nurse should give what instructions to the client?

"Do not take any NSAIDs within 72 hours of the test."

It is suspected that a client might have a problem in the duodenum and the client is scheduled to have GI studies done in the morning. In client education, the nurse describes the procedure and includes basic information about anatomy and the function of the organs involved. The client asks how long the duodenum is. What is the nurse's best response?

10 inches

A focused GI assessment begins with a complete history and physical examination. Identify the quadrant of the abdomen to be palpated or percussed for a patient with pancreatitis.

left upper

A nurse is caring for a client admitted with a suspected malabsorption disorder. The nurse knows that one of the accessory organs of the digestive system is the pancreas. What digestive enzymes does the pancreas secrete? Select all that apply.

lipase amylase tryspin

While palpating a client's right upper quadrant (RUQ), the nurse would expect to find which structure?

liver

An older client reports difficulty chewing and swallowing. Which age-related changes will the nurse suspect as the reasons for the client's symptoms? Select all that apply.

loss of teeth weakened gag reflex atrophy of taste buds reduced saliva production less ptyalin and amylase in saliva

A client is scheduled to have an upper gastrointestinal series. Which preparations will the client be asked to follow prior to the procedure?

low-residue diet for 2 to 3 days prior; NPO for 8 to 12 hours before

A client reports frequent episodes of reflux, and describes regurgitating small amounts of stomach contents into the esophagus. What sphincter is most likely not performing its normal physiologic function?

lower esophageal sphincter

A client reports a new onset of diarrhea. For which additional symptoms will the nurse assess this client? Select all that apply.

nausea vomiting cramping abdominal pain

An advanced practice nurse is assessing the size and density of a client's abdominal organs. If the results of palpation are unclear to the nurse, what assessment technique should be implemented?

percussion

A client tells the nurse that the stool was colored yellow. The nurse assesses the client for

recent foods ingested

A clinic client has described recent dark-colored stools, and the nurse recognizes the need for fecal occult blood testing (FOBT). What aspect of the client's current health status would contraindicate FOBT?

hemorrhoids

A client with abdominal pain is scheduled for a CT scan of the abdomen with contrast. Which assessment will the nurse complete before transporting the client for the diagnostic test?

history of allergies

The nurse auscultates the abdomen to assess bowel sounds. She documents five to six sounds heard in less than 30 seconds. How does the nurse document the bowel sounds?

hyperactive

Which term describes a gastric secretion that combines with vitamin B12 so that it can be absorbed?

intrinsic factor